Abstract

Field electron emission properties of individual diamond cone were investigated using a customized double-probe scanning electron microscope system. The diamond cone was formed by maskless ion sputtering process in bias-assisted hot filament chemical vapor deposition system. The as-formed sharp diamond cone coated with high-content amorphous carbon exhibited high emission current of about at an applied voltage of . The field emission was stable and well in consistent with the conventional Fowler-Nordheim emission mechanism, due to a stabilization process in surface work function. It has demonstrated the possibility of using individual diamond cone as a point electron emission source, because of its high field electron emission ability and stable surface state after the process of work function stabilization.

Received 28 February 2006Accepted 18 June 2006Published online 08 August 2006

Acknowledgments:

This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 50472071), the State Key Development Program for Basic Research of China (Grant No. 2002CB613500), and National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, China.